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"If Dana White wants to (hang out with McGregor) it's cool," Holloway told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.coom). "I got a family, and I'd rather be chilling with my family then being on a superstar tour with Dana White. After this fight all I want is to get on a plane, come back home, and hopefully have $50,000 more in my bank account."

Holloway isn't blind to the promotional push McGregor is getting ahead of his second UFC fight, which takes place Saturday at Boston's TD Garden. Their bout is one of many airing on FOX Sports 1 as part of the new channel's debut day of programming.

From his appearance in White's popular video blogs to getting a personal media day ahead of the event, most fighters would be envious of the position "The Notorious" currently finds himself in.

Not Holloway, though. He understands McGregor is the UFC's key when it comes to international expansion in Ireland, and they must market him as such. However, once the cage door closes, where McGregor is from is irrelevant, and it'll all come down to who is the better man with the superior skill set, Holloway said.

Holloway believes he is that man, and while McGregor is doing the right things outside the octagon to become a big name in the sport, the Hawaiian knows he will do the right things inside of it in order to take some of the spotlight for himself.

"He's like the first guy from Ireland and UFC – he's the first big name, big star, and UFC needs an Ireland guy," Holloway said. "If they didn't have B.J. Penn, I think they'd be putting more hype into Hawaii fighters, but they already had a Hawaiian star, and he's the first Ireland star so, it is what it is.

"Not that I hate on his shine, you know? I just like to fight. I love to fight, and we're going to see what this hype is about on Aug. 17 when those doors close on the cage. I'm going to earn my respect. I'd rather earn my stripes. I'd rather put my time in, earn my stripes rather than have someone say, 'Here, here's your stripes going in.'"

McGregor not only has high expectations from fans, but it appears he also has big plans for his own career as he has discussed future matchups with the likes of 145-pound contender Cub Swanson and divisional kingpin Jose Aldo.

Those are some grand aspirations, and while Holloway knows his opponent is focused on the upcoming fight, he feels slightly disrespected and plans on making the Irishman take an unwelcomed detour on his road to the top.

"[He's underestimating me] for sure," Holloway said. "He might just be playing it cool. I think he gets ready for all his fights, and he's ready for all his fights. I don't think he takes anyone lightly. But, I don't know what's going through his mind; he's calling out Cub Swanson and a bunch of top 5 fighters. He wants to fight Aldo for the belt real fast.

"My job is to go in there and stop that from happening. If I get a victory in there and I finish him, it's going to be that much sweeter."

So how exactly does he envision the fight playing out? On the feet, of course.

Despite his youth, Holloway is one of the best strikers in the featherweight division, a statement proven true by his stat sheet. Through five career UFC fights, Holloway is tops in 145-pound history (and second overall in UFC history) when it comes to strikes landed on his opponent per minute. He is tied for the most knockdowns in featherweight history, has the third best striking defense in the weight class, and has connected with the second most significant strikes in the division's existence.

"Blessed" loves to keep his fights standing, and in his opinion, this one will be no different, especially considering McGregor has earned 12 of his 13 professional wins by way of knockout.

"Whenever someone hears that Max Holloway is fighting, they can get ready to watch a stand up fight," he said. "I love to keep it on the feet, and as long as you want to stand up, I'd love to stand up with him. I just don't know he might go in there and shoot on me or whatever, but I love to keep it on my feet. My game plan ain't no secret."

After falling just short of victory against Dennis Bermudez at May's UFC 160 event in a fight many believed he won, Holloway is highly motivated to take the crown of most hyped featherweight prospect from McGregor's head and put it on his own.

And not only does Holloway plan on doing that Saturday night, but he intends on doing it in a fashion worthy of one of the UFC's lucrative fight-night bonuses.

"True champions, they come back (from losses) stronger than ever, and I can't wait to fight this fight," Holloway said. "One of us is walking out with a bonus added to our list, and I just can't wait to get in the cage and fight this guy."

Everybody is so in love with this McGregor guy as if he has done anything to be considered the next GOAT.
Yes, he has some TKO victories over nobodies, and he has an exciting style. Well, he is not at all the first guy that has done that. But everybody is hyping him as if he is some Jon Jones or Fedor Emelianenko of his division.

He has 2 loses, both loses by sub in a combined time of 1 minute.
I have watched some of his fights, and he is a good striker, but nothing extraordinary either. And even in those fights he get easily put in situations where a good BJJ fighter would give him lots of trouble.

Maybe he is going to beat Holloway because it is not that Holloway is some Top 10.
But I am sure that this huge hype train will be derailed very soon.
Because if someone like him is already considered a future GOAT, then what can we say about somebody like Nurmagomedov??

Everybody is so in love with this McGregor guy as if he has done anything to be considered the next GOAT.
Yes, he has some TKO victories over nobodies, and he has an exciting style. Well, he is not at all the first guy that has done that. But everybody is hyping him as if he is some Jon Jones or Fedor Emelianenko of his division.

He has 2 loses, both loses by sub in a combined time of 1 minute.
I have watched some of his fights, and he is a good striker, but nothing extraordinary either. And even in those fights he get easily put in situations where a good BJJ fighter would give him lots of trouble.

Maybe he is going to beat Holloway because it is not that Holloway is some Top 10.
But I am sure that this huge hype train will be derailed very soon.
Because if someone like him is already considered a future GOAT, then what can we say about somebody like Nurmagomedov??

I can't speak for everyone, but for me he has shown really good technique standing. I don't expect him to be champ but I see him potentially being top 10. Which is always exciting to watch someone climbing the ranks from no where.
Nurmagomedov on the other hand I see possibly becoming champ, well depending on who he has to fight when he does get his shot.

Should be a great fight against two prospects. It seems like people are forgetting what a hyped fighter Holloway has been.

Originally Posted by Pasha K

Everybody is so in love with this McGregor guy as if he has done anything to be considered the next GOAT.
Yes, he has some TKO victories over nobodies, and he has an exciting style. Well, he is not at all the first guy that has done that. But everybody is hyping him as if he is some Jon Jones or Fedor Emelianenko of his division.

He has 2 loses, both loses by sub in a combined time of 1 minute.
I have watched some of his fights, and he is a good striker, but nothing extraordinary either. And even in those fights he get easily put in situations where a good BJJ fighter would give him lots of trouble.

Maybe he is going to beat Holloway because it is not that Holloway is some Top 10.
But I am sure that this huge hype train will be derailed very soon.
Because if someone like him is already considered a future GOAT, then what can we say about somebody like Nurmagomedov??

Who's called him a future GOAT?? I haven't even seen people say he's a definite future champ...
I don't think you're arguing about anything that's actually happened.